July 25, 200718 yr from floridamarlins.com: PHOENIX -- How much of a factor is a catcher to a pitcher? In the case of Dontrelle Willis, there are some interesting numbers to ponder. Matt Treanor was behind the plate for Willis on Monday night at Chase Field. And while the Diamondbacks rallied for a 4-3 victory, there were some encouraging signs for the 25-year-old Florida left-hander. Willis worked 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits. Granted, the outing wasn't staggering, but considering the D-Train didn't make it as far as four innings in his previous two starts, pitching effectively into the seventh inning was a step in the right direction. "I think it's more mental than a physical or mechanical-type thing with him," Treanor said. "I think his health is more of a concern than either the physical stuff or the mechanical stuff. I think he's back on track." The big blast surrendered by Willis was a two-run homer by Orlando Hudson in the third inning. The D-Train left a full-count slider up, and Hudson got all of it. "The home run, that was definitely my fault," said Treanor, who called for the slider. "I got a little tricky trying to punch somebody out. Everything was working. His two-seamer was going where he wanted it to." Treanor is one of seven different catchers to be behind the plate when Willis has been on the mound. Called up in May of 2003, Willis initially threw to Ivan Rodriguez in the Marlins' World Series title season. This season, Miguel Olivo has handled just about all of Willis' starts. Overall, Treanor has caught Willis for 244 innings. When he is behind the plate, Willis has an ERA of 3.43 and the opponents batting average is .264. In the two seasons Olivo has worked with Willis, he has caught 200 1/3 innings. Willis' ERA is 5.08 in those innings, and the opposing batting average is .291. The catcher Willis has had the most success with is Paul Lo Duca, who caught his 22-win season in 2005. In 246 1/3 innings pitching to Lo Duca, Willis's ERA was 2.85, and opponents hit .251. "That year is when [Willis'] sinker was really on," Treanor said. "His sinker was 84-85 and sometimes 86 [mph]. Then he would zip in a fastball at 92." Treanor remembers Lo Duca telling him that year to set up down the middle and let Willis' sinker do the rest. As a rookie in 2003, Willis threw 144 2/3 innings with Rodriguez catching. His ERA was 3.36, and the opposition hit .242. Three other catchers Willis has thrown to are Mike Redmond, Josh Willingham and Ryan Jorgensen. Willis threw 97 2/3 innings to Redmond, now with the Twins. His ERA was 3.69 and opponents batted .277. Willingham caught just 11 Willis innings, and the numbers were (5.73 ERA) and (.275 batting average). Jorgensen handled only one scoreless inning, with the opposition hitting .250. "Usually, with other pitchers, you have to speed them up," Treanor said. "With Dontrelle, it's the other way around. He's ready to go, and you need to slow him down a bit, so he can stay composed and stay focused. I thought last night, he was really good."
July 25, 200718 yr A BAA > .260 is a recipe for trouble. And either way, it's the coaches, not the catcher, most responsible for the pitcher's pitch selection.
July 25, 200718 yr And either way, it's the coaches, not the catcher, most responsible for the pitcher's pitch selection. No.
July 25, 200718 yr We should only trade Dontrelle if someone makes us an offer we can't refuse. Otherwise there's no pressing need to trade him since he's not a free agent at the end of this year. And tell the Mariners, he ain't no band leader. Yeah, I heard that story.
July 25, 200718 yr And either way, it's the coaches, not the catcher, most responsible for the pitcher's pitch selection. No. :lol Yes. Yes it is. Bullpen coach is with the pitcher before he enters the game. He's witness to what pitches the pitcher has working. Pitching coach goes over the game-plan with the pitcher and catcher before the game. They set up a plan of attack. Manager (or sometimes the pitching coach, depending on the manager) call pitches in game, or pitch sequencing.
July 25, 200718 yr Good riddance what a great fan you are Exactly. I'm a fan who likes to win. And obsess over Cabrera's bat. :lol
July 25, 200718 yr Good riddance what a great fan you are Exactly. I'm a fan who likes to win. Go become a Yankees fan then. A lack of loyalty is the worst habit a fan can have.
July 25, 200718 yr Good riddance what a great fan you are Exactly. I'm a fan who likes to win. Go become a Yankees fan then. A lack of loyalty is the worst habit a fan can have. Umm..let's see jr. I'm loyal to the TEAM. Not Dontrelle. I follow the Marlins win or lose....but how does wanting Dontrelle trading for other team needs make me unloyal? Some of you fans are funny.
July 25, 200718 yr Yea because he hasnt done anything positive for this franchise in the 5 years he's been here.
July 25, 200718 yr Good riddance what a great fan you are Exactly. I'm a fan who likes to win. Go become a Yankees fan then. A lack of loyalty is the worst habit a fan can have. Umm..let's see jr. I'm loyal to the TEAM. Not Dontrelle. I follow the Marlins win or lose....but how does wanting Dontrelle trading for other team needs make me unloyal? Some of you fans are funny. It's not a matter of if you want him traded or not it's saying 'good riddance' to a player that helped you win a WS and has been an all-star for you.
July 25, 200718 yr And either way, it's the coaches, not the catcher, most responsible for the pitcher's pitch selection. No. :lol Yes. Yes it is. Bullpen coach is with the pitcher before he enters the game. He's witness to what pitches the pitcher has working. Pitching coach goes over the game-plan with the pitcher and catcher before the game. They set up a plan of attack. Manager (or sometimes the pitching coach, depending on the manager) call pitches in game, or pitch sequencing. yup.
July 25, 200718 yr CERA may just be the most useless stat around. If some of you were GMs I'm sure you would pay millions to some catching bums just because of their CERAs.
July 26, 200718 yr We should only trade Dontrelle if someone makes us an offer we can't refuse. Otherwise there's no pressing need to trade him since he's not a free agent at the end of this year. And tell the Mariners, he ain't no band leader. Yeah, I heard that story. :lol
July 26, 200718 yr you trade him if you get a nice bounty otherwise don't sell low You know as well as anyone that his trade stock is dropping after every start. When is low low enough to just hang on to him until 2009, playing the waiting game? I say we get what we can. Now.
July 26, 200718 yr you trade him if you get a nice bounty otherwise don't sell low You know as well as anyone that his trade stock is dropping after every start. When is low low enough to just hang on to him until you just let him stick around until 2009, playing the waiting game? I say we get what we can. Now. Yea it's dropping like no other... I'd rather hold on to him then settle for just a Wladimir Balantien, who is a nice player but you don't move a cheap, young lefty who has won before, for just a nice player
July 26, 200718 yr you trade him if you get a nice bounty otherwise don't sell low You know as well as anyone that his trade stock is dropping after every start. When is low low enough to just hang on to him until you just let him stick around until 2009, playing the waiting game? I say we get what we can. Now. Yea it's dropping like no other... I'd rather hold on to him then settle for just a Wladimir Balantien, who is a nice player but you don't move a cheap, young lefty who has won before, for just a nice player So let me ask you a question: If he continues on like this, do you think he has a spot in the rotation next year?
July 26, 200718 yr you trade him if you get a nice bounty otherwise don't sell low You know as well as anyone that his trade stock is dropping after every start. When is low low enough to just hang on to him until you just let him stick around until 2009, playing the waiting game? I say we get what we can. Now. Yea it's dropping like no other... I'd rather hold on to him then settle for just a Wladimir Balantien, who is a nice player but you don't move a cheap, young lefty who has won before, for just a nice player So let me ask you a question: If he continues on like this, do you think he has a spot in the rotation next year? Without a doubt in my mind not only that, but he's our opening day starter
July 26, 200718 yr you trade him if you get a nice bounty otherwise don't sell low You know as well as anyone that his trade stock is dropping after every start. When is low low enough to just hang on to him until you just let him stick around until 2009, playing the waiting game? I say we get what we can. Now. Yea it's dropping like no other... I'd rather hold on to him then settle for just a Wladimir Balantien, who is a nice player but you don't move a cheap, young lefty who has won before, for just a nice player So let me ask you a question: If he continues on like this, do you think he has a spot in the rotation next year? Without a doubt in my mind not only that, but he's our opening day starter If he's not traded this year and his stock is so low that all we can pick up is a Balentin type, I would settle for riding his contract out but there's no way in hell he's the number one starter come next year. Mitre has outpitched him this year and I could make the same argument for Kim. If Josh Johnson comes back to life before next year which I think he will, I'd put him at the top of the rotation over Willis. I didn't like the lefty/lefty 1-2 combo from the start. Maybe something like this next year: Johnson Willis Mitre Sanchez Olsen or Johnson Mitre Willis Olsen Sanchez If Willis is traded before next season: Johnson Mitre Sanchez Olsen Kim/RVH Depending on how he does in the spring, I'd also like to see Gaby Hernandez on call for spot starts.
July 28, 200718 yr A BAA > .260 is a recipe for trouble. And either way, it's the coaches, not the catcher, most responsible for the pitcher's pitch selection. True by every account I've come across. Although a pitcher may not bring his best stuff or target spots if he's unsure about his catcher.
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